THE SERIAL MURDERERS MOTIVATIONS - AN INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEW

A serial killer is defined as an individual who murders two or more vi ctims over an extended period of time, ranging from days to years, wit h the crimes often being sexually motivated. Although there is a growi ng popular emphasis on the phenomenon, there is a paucity of rigorous research in the area. The present article reviews existing motivationa l theories of serial murder and proposes additional explications from a range of disciplines. Suggestions for future research are presented and integrational approaches are encouraged.